Pete Costanza (Canadian football)

Pete Costanza (born 1970) is a professional Canadian football coach who is the pass game coordinator and receivers coach for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Pete Costanza
Toronto Argonauts
Costanza with the Argonauts in 2022
Born:1970 (age 52–53)[1]
New Jersey, U.S.[2]
Career information
Position(s)Pass game coordinator
Receivers coach
CollegeWilliam Paterson
Career history
As coach
1997–1999New Jersey Red Dogs
(Assistant coach)
2000Roanoke Steam
(Offensive coordinator)
2001Iowa Barnstormers
(Offensive coordinator)
2002Columbus Wardogs
(Head coach)
2003Albany Conquest
(Head coach)
2004–2005Columbus Destroyers
(Head coach, Offensive coordinator)
2005–2007Albany Conquest
(Head coach)
2006–2007Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
(Defensive backs coach)
2008–2019Calgary Stampeders
(Receivers coach)
2020–2021Winnipeg Blue Bombers
(Running backs coach)
2022–presentToronto Argonauts
(Pass game coordinator, Receivers coach)
Career highlights and awards

College career

Costanza played college football as a wide receiver for the William Paterson Pioneers and graduated from William Paterson University in 1994.[2]

Coaching career

Arena football

Costanza began his coaching career as volunteer coach for the New Jersey Red Dogs of the Arena Football League under head coach John Hufnagel.[1] He was an assistant coach for three years there before becoming the offensive coordinator for the Roanoke Steam in 2000 and then the Iowa Barnstormers in 2001.[3] In 2002, he became the head coach for the Columbus Wardogs.[3] He moved to the Albany Conquest in 2003, also as head coach, before joining the Columbus Destroyers in 2004 to serve as both head coach and offensive coordinator.[3] He resigned from his position with the Destroyers in 2005 and re-joined the Conquest on May 24, 2005, where he was named head coach and director of football operations.[4]

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

While still coaching in the AF2, Costanza was hired as the defensive backs coach for the RPI Engineers in 2006.[2] He spent two seasons coaching for Rensselaer.[2][3]

Calgary Stampeders

Costanza first entered the CFL as a receivers coach for the Calgary Stampeders in 2008, as part of John Hufnagel's inaugural staff which reunited the pair after first working together for the New Jersey Red Dogs.[3][5] In his first year, the Stampeders won the 96th Grey Cup.[6] He continued to work in this position as the Stampeders won championships in 2014 and 2018.[6] On November 27, 2019, it was announced that Costanza and the Stampeders had decided to part ways, although it was reported that he could not be retained due to the newly implemented football operations salary cap imposed by the league.[6][7]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

On January 21, 2020, it was announced that Costanza had joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to serve as the team's running backs coach.[8] After the league cancelled the 2020 CFL season, the Blue Bombers ended the 2021 season victorious in the 108th Grey Cup game and Costanza won his fourth championship.[3]

Toronto Argonauts

It was announced on January 19, 2022, that Costanza had joined the Toronto Argonauts as their receivers coach and pass game coordinator.[9] In his first year, the Argonauts won the 109th Grey Cup and Costanza won his fifth championship. In the following offseason, he was a finalist for the offensive coordinator position for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.[10]

References
  1. "Stampeders receiver coach seized even the smallest opportunities and sees more ahead". Calgary Herald. April 19, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  2. "Rensselaer 2007 Football game program" (PDF). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  3. "Pete Costanza". Toronto Argonauts. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  4. "Destroyers Offensive Coordinator Pete Costanza named Head Coach of af2's Albany Conquest". oursportscentral.com. Columbus Destroyers. May 24, 2005.
  5. "Costanza headed north of the border". The Record. January 8, 2008.
  6. "Stampeders and receivers coach Pete Costanza part ways". Calgary Stampeders. November 27, 2019.
  7. "Longtime Stampeders receivers coach Pete Costanza let go due to football operations cap". 3DownNation. November 27, 2019.
  8. "Bombers unveil offensive coaching staff". Winnipeg Blue Bombers. January 21, 2020.
  9. "Argos announce 2022 coaching staff". Toronto Argonauts. January 19, 2022.
  10. "Markus Howell turns down offensive coordinator interview request from Saskatchewan Roughriders". 3DownNation. December 5, 2022.
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